BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance requiring businesses and establishments in the city which offer halal products and services to acquire Halal Certificate from bodies accredited by the National Commission for Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) prior to the posting of the word Halal within their premises or to use the Halal logo in their business name.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Leandro B. Yangot, Jr. stated that it is the purpose of the measure to require businesses and establishment which offer halal products and services to acquire Halal Certification from the NCMF in order to advance or protect the rights, culture and lifestyle of Muslims to consume religious-sanctioned products and to improve and maintain the harmony and understanding and social peace and order to the city for the promotion of sustainable progress and development.
The ordinance shall cover all hotels, restaurants, fast food chains, eateries, food stalls and like establishments, school or university canteens and other food establishments in the city serving halal foods and beverages within the territorial jurisdiction of the city, halal foods and beverages served on any occasion in any function hall in the city, including but not limited to, seminars, workshops, meetings, forums and weddings and birthdays and any business establishment that produces, manufactures, processes and supplies halal food and non-food products and services in the city.
Yangot said owners, managers, proprietors and staff of all businesses and establishments in the city which offer halal food and non-food products and services must acquire Halal Certification from NCMF-accredited halal-certifying entities or bodies in case the establishment offers halal processed food and non-food products, display the Philippine Halal logo in front of their businesses or establishments and display the necessary documents within their premises pertaining to the Halal Certification.
The measure prohibits any business or establishment to display the Halal logo or Halal word in their premises without the necessary certification by NCMF-accredited Halal-certifying entities or bodies.
Under the proposed ordinance, owners, proprietors or managers of businesses or establishments or any person found violating the provisions of the measure shall be fine not less than P500 but not more than P1,000 for the first offense, not less than P1,000 but more than P2,000 for the second offense and not less than P2,000 but not more than P5,000 and revocation of business permit and license to operate and closure of the business or establishment for the third offense, all at the discretion of the court.
By Dexter A. See
